Best of Myanmar

Itinerary:
Day 1. Arrival in Yangon (Myanmar)
Arrival to Yangon (most likely your trip from Europe should start the day before) in the early afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Sightseeing begins with a visit to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to the 70-meter reclining Buddha. We continue to Kandawgyi Park, where we can see Karaweik barge - a replica of the royal barge. We visit also the famous Shwedagon Pagoda - the most revert Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Overnight in Yangon. B/-/-

Day 2. Yangon
Transfer to Yangon Railway Station to take a unique ride on the city's circular train ride via the outskirts of the town (about 20-30 min). This slowly travelling train gives you the unique opportunity to observe the colorful lifestyle of the local people. We get off the train at the Kyi Myin Daing market and then transfer back to Yangon. The sightseeing continues with a drive along the famous Strand Road and a visit to the harbour, the 2000-year-old Sule Pagoda and Mahabandoola Park. We continue to a local tea shop for some tea drinking. Free time for shopping at the Bogyoke market (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Last on our list for the day is a visit to the vibrant Chinatown Night Market. Overnight in Yangon. B/-/-

Day 3. Yangon - Bagan
Morning flight to Bagan, Myanmars ancient capital dotted with thousands of pagodas and flanked by the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. We visit Shwezigon Pagoda, its graceful bell shape became a prototype of later Myanmar stupa, and then continue to Wetkyi-in Gubyaukkyi, a cave temple with exquisite Jatakas mural paintings. We continue to the eminent Ananda Temple with a 51-meter shimmering gold tip, Manuha Temple, Nanpaya Temple and Gubyaukgui, which is protected by UNESCO for its mural paintings. We finish the day with a visit to the famous Shwesandaw Pagoda and follow the steps up to one of the high terraces to enjoy a great view over the plains and the city. Overnight in Bagan. B/-/-

Day 4. Bagan
After breakfast we visit Tayoke Pyay, Payathonzu and Nandamanya Temples (noted for exquisite 13th century murals) and Kyat Kan Cave Monastery, a famous meditation centre in Bagan. In the afternoon we continue to the farming villages around Bagan that will give an insight to the rural life of the local people. Afterwards we head to the beautiful Nat Hlaung Kyaung, a monastery famous for wood carvings and collection of ancient Buddha statues and lacquer boxes. At the end of the day, we enjoy the sunset at one of the monuments near the Ayeyarwady River. Overnight in Bagan. B/-/-

Day 5. Bagan - Mandalay
After breakfast we drive from Bagan to Mandalay (app. 4 hours), the spiritual heart of Myanmar, we head straight to Mahamuni Pagoda one of Myanmar’s most revered Buddha images, a 4-meter-high statue covered with a thick layer of gold leaf. We spent the afternoon exploring the Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, where Buddhist scripture is carved on 729 marble tablets, billed as the “biggest book” in the world. We finish our sightseeing on Mandalay Hill, an ideal spot to enjoy the sunset over the town. Overnight in Mandalay. B/-/-

Day 6. Mandalay - Amarapura - Ava - Sagaing - Mandalay
A full day trip to the ancient cities of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. We visit country’s largest monastery “Maha Gandayone Kyaung”, home to several thousand young monks, renowned as a center for monastic study. By a short ferry boat ride, we cross Myintge River (Myintge canal) to Ava, where we visit the old wooden Bagaya Monastery (the Me Nu Ok Kyaung). We continue to Sagaing Hills, with numerous pagodas and over 600 monasteries and nunneries dotted along the Hills. Visit the impressive 29.3m-high Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin pagoda, and U-Min Thounzeh (30 Caves). A stroll along the 1.2km long teak-pole U Bein pedestrian bridge before we return to the hotel in Mandalay for overnight. B/-/-

Day 7. Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake
After early breakfast we drive from Mandalay to Heho (app 5 hours) in the Southern Shan State, the gateway to the captivating Inle Lake. We embark on a private motorboat on a sail trip among stilted villages, floating gardens, unique pagodas, and traditional flat-bottomed boats powered by leg-rowing fishermen. We visit Phaung Daw Oo pagoda and its five holy Buddha images. We see Nampan floating villages that hosts many local artisans. Out tour continues to Inn Paw Khone weaving village and finally visit Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, one of the most impressive of the many monasteries on the lake with its 150-200 pillars with elaborate wooden carvings. Overnight at a hotel on the Inle Lake. B/-/-

Day 8. Inle Lake - Indein
Boat trip on the lake. Visit Pa-Oh village of In Dein on the western bank of the lake. We pass by the busy village of Ywama - the largest on the lake, and continue to Nyaung Ohak Monastery, where we wander through a stair path lined up with many hundreds of wooden columns before we reach the impressive Shwe Inn Thein Paya complex with more than 1000 stupas, built in the 17th and 18th century. After a stroll in the pagoda complex, we take the boat back to Inle Lake and the hotel. B/-/-

Day 9. Inle - Heho - Yangon. Departure
Transfer to Heho airport to catch the flight back to Yangon. End of service. B/-/-